Burundi slams "liars" who say country has no equipment to detect COVID-19

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-26 16:34:46|Editor: huaxia

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BUJUMBURA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Burundi has denounced as "liars" online users who claim the country does not have equipment to detect the novel coronavirus.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Burundian Government Spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said the east African country has adequate and sufficient equipment to test COVID-19.

"The Burundian government reassures that the country has adequate and sufficient equipment to detect the novel coronavirus. The evidence is that the suspicious coronavirus case of a teacher at the French School was screened, but results showed that she was negative," said Ntahorwamiye.

He gave the examples of the French and the Belgian schools in the commercial capital Bujumbura that have already suspended classes after the global COVID-19 outbreak.

The Burundian government has warned against manipulating the facts and distorting decisions made by the government.

Ntahorwamiye said the Burundian government "has the right to take appropriate measures" against those who make unjustified claims.

The Burundian government thanked China for supplying logistical equipment to combat a potential outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

So far, no novel coronavirus case has been reported in Burundi. Several measures have been taken to prevent COVID-19 from entering the east African nation, including suspending international commercial flights departing or landing at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura, and suspending the delivery of visas and overseas business travel.